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As a runner, I eat oatmeal like it’s my job. But plain oatmeal gets old after a while, so I started experimenting with healthy breakfast bowl recipes to see which ones I liked the most – and these are the top 5.
My absolute favorite is #1 (with blueberries and sliced banana). I literally eat it 3-4 times a week!
Why is oatmeal good for runners?
Oats are nutritious, filling, and provide easily-digestible yet sustainable fuel.
Read all about oatmeal nutrition facts and it’s health benefits here if you are interested (summary: oatmeal contains a well-balanced mix of fiber, protein and unsaturated fat, as well as lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants…it’s basically a runner’s dream food!).
Also: Runners need proper nutrition to perform their best – whether you run 2 miles or 20 – and it’s super important to know how to fuel the right way. Check out Runners Food 101: The Ultimate Guide to Nutrition for Runners if you want to learn more!
1.) The Go-To: Berry Breakfast Bowl
5 from 5 votes
Berry Breakfast Bowl
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 mins
Total Time
8 mins
Super easy, healthy breakfast bowl recipe. Easy to customize - just add your favorite berry!
Course:Breakfast
Servings: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1/2cupQuick Oats or Steel-cut Oats
- 1/3cupberries (frozen or fresh)Blueberries are delicious in this recipe!
- 1/3cupcoconut water
- 1/4cupmilkI prefer almond milk but any milk will work
- 1/2tspcinnamon
- 1tspchia seeds
Instructions
Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl.
Using Quick Oats or Steel-Cut Oats? Choose for next step
Quick Oats Instructions
Microwave oatmeal bowl for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove bowl from microwave and stir. Place oatmeal back in the microwave for another 1 minute.
Steel-Cut Oats Instructions
Microwave oatmeal bowl for 2 minutes. Remove bowl from microwave and stir. Place oatmeal back in the microwave for another 1 minute. Check oatmeal for tenderness, if it's not very tender yet, place back in microwave to cook for another 30 seconds. Repeat until desired tenderness is achieved.
2.) The Elvis: Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Bowl
5 from 5 votes
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bowl
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 mins
Total Time
8 mins
A healthy and delicious retreat from a basic oatmeal bowl, that will fill you up! Garnish with ground flaxseed for extra nutrition.
Course:Breakfast
Servings: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1/2cupQuick Oats or Steel-cut Oats
- 1/3cupcoconut water
- 1/4cupmilk (I prefer almond milk but any milk will do)
- 1tablespoonof natural peanut butter
- 1/2banana
- 1tspground flaxseed(optional topping)
- 1/2tablespoon100% real maple syrup(optional sweetener)
Instructions
Place oats, coconut water and milk into a bowl and stir. Place bowl in microwave and cook for 1.5 minutes. Stir and place back into microwave for another 1 minute. If using steel-cut oats, place in microwave or 2 minutes instead of 1 minute.
Next, stir in peanut butter and optional sweetener. Then cut banana into slices and place on top of oatmeal. Sprinkle on optional ground flaxseed. Enjoy!
3.) The All-American: Apple Pie Breakfast Bowl
5 from 5 votes
Apple Pie Breakfast Bowl
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 mins
Total Time
8 mins
Apples and cinnamon mixed with oatmeal make for a healthy breakfast bowl recipe reminiscent of apple pie!
Course:Breakfast
Servings: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1/2cupQuick Oats or Steel-cut Oats
- 1/3cupcoconut water or regular water
- 1/4cupmilk(I prefer almond milk but any milk will do)
- 1/2tspcinnamon
- 1/2apple(diced or sliced)
- 1/2tablespoon100% real maple syrup or agave(optional sweetener)
Instructions
Place oats, coconut water, milk, and cinnamon into a bowl and stir. Place bowl in microwave and cook for 1.5 minutes. Stir and place back into microwave for another 1 minute. If using steel-cut oats, place in microwave or 2 minutes instead of 1 minute.
Next, stir in sliced or diced apple and optional sweetener. Enjoy!
4.) The Autumn: Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Bowl
5 from 5 votes
Pumpkin Breakfast Bowl
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 mins
Total Time
8 mins
Pumpkin and maple syrup mix together in this healthy breakfast bowl recipe to make a fall-inspired pumpkin pie oatmeal bowl you'll love! Nutrition and flavor...the perfect runners breakfast.
Servings: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1/2cupQuick Oats or Steel-cut Oats
- 1/4cupcoconut water
- 1/3cupmilkI prefer almond milk but any milk will do
- 1/4cuppureed pumpkinI like Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
- 1/2tspground cinnamon
- 1/2tablespoon100% real maple syrup
Instructions
Place all ingredients into a bowl and stir. Place bowl in microwave and cook for 1.5 minutes. Stir and place back into microwave for another 1 minute. If using steel-cut oats, place in microwave or 2 minutes instead of 1 minute. Add extra maple syrup to increase sweetness if desired.
5.) The Southern: Peaches and Cream Breakfast Bowl
5 from 5 votes
Peaches and Cream Breakfast Bowl
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 mins
Total Time
8 mins
Peaches and cream is an essential southern flavor combination and packs a punch with the health benefits of peaches and oatmeal in one healthy breakfast bowl recipe!
Course:Breakfast
Servings: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1/2cupQuick oats or Steel-cut Oats
- 1/2cupmilk(I prefer almond milk but any milk works)
- 1/3cupfresh peaches(diced)
- 1/2tspvanilla extract
- 1/2tbsphoney(or other sweetener)
Instructions
Place oats, milk, and vanilla into a bowl and stir. Place bowl in microwave and cook for 1.5 minutes. Stir and place back into microwave for another 1 minute. If using steel-cut oats, place in microwave or 2 minutes instead of 1 minute.
Next, stir in honey (or your preferred sweetener). Then dice peaches and place on top of oatmeal. Enjoy!
Those are my favorite healthy breakfast bowls for runners! I love oatmeal all year long, and mixing it up with these recipes helps keep things interesting. 🙂
What’s your favorite healthy breakfast bowl recipe? Tell me in the comments – I’m always looking for new flavor combinations to fuel my day!
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